India questions OIC's role in Kashmir remarks at UN Security Council debate

United Nations: India has indirectly criticised the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for repeatedly raising the Kashmir issue, arguing that cross-regional groupings without a direct mandate on international peace and security should refrain from intervening in such disputes.

Speaking at the UN Security Council's Open Debate on "Strengthening the Mechanisms for Peaceful Settlement of Disputes" on Thursday, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, P. Harish, said that organisations lacking geographical relevance or expertise should not involve themselves in regional conflicts.

"Cross-regional groups that are neither bound by geography nor common issues, with no direct linkage to international peace and security, may not get involved in disputes and conflicts," Harish said. He added that such organisations "lack domain expertise and regional knowledge that are critical to resolution of disputes."

Although Harish did not mention the OIC by name, his remarks were widely seen as a response to the organisation's repeated references to Kashmir, including statements issued by its General Secretariat last October.

Harish made the comments after Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, described Kashmir as "the core issue bedevilling peace and stability in South Asia" during the debate.

India maintained that established regional and sub-regional organisations can play a constructive role in conflict resolution and complement the work of the United Nations. However, it argued that cross-regional groupings without a specific mandate or regional connection are not suited to mediate such issues.

The 57-member OIC, which spans four continents, has on several occasions expressed support for Pakistan's position on Kashmir. In its October statement, the organisation reiterated its solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and called for the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions on the issue.

India has consistently maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country and has also pointed out that the 1948 UN Security Council resolution first required Pakistan to withdraw its troops and nationals from the territories it occupied before any further steps could be considered. New Delhi has repeatedly said Pakistan has never fulfilled that obligation and has instead continued to support cross-border terrorism.

With inputs from IANS